Cooperation with Bersatu to be discussed, gag order issued
PETALING JAYA: PAS’ leadership will decide among themselves on the party’s cooperation with Bersatu before bringing the decision to the Perikatan Nasional leadership, says Datuk Seri Takiyuddin Hassan (pic).
“We will let PAS’ leadership decide when they hold their central committee meeting. This will be in the next few days.
“PAS leaders must first meet among ourselves before we bring forward the party’s views (on cooperation with Bersatu) to the Perikatan supreme council meeting,” he told reporters.
On the gag order issued to PAS leaders and members, restricting them from commenting about the PAS-Bersatu rift, Takiyuddin, who is PAS secretary-general, explained that it was to ensure that “things do not turn more chaotic”.
The relationship between Bersatu and PAS – both main components of Perikatan – has been strained since the Perlis Mentri Besar controversy which saw former mentri besar Mohd Shukri Ramli, who is from PAS, be replaced by Abu Bakar Hamzah from Bersatu.
Meanwhile, Bersatu co-founder and former supreme council member Datuk Seri Redzuan Yusof said both PAS and Bersatu presidents should sit down to iron things out and not be led by those intending to upend Perikatan.
He said PAS leaders should know better than to fall for what he described as “the whispers of scorned former Bersatu members who are seeking revenge against the party”.
“Both Tan Sri Muhyiddin Yassin and Tan Sri Abdul Hadi Awang are seasoned politicians who know what is best for their parties.
“Abdul Hadi publicly accusing Bersatu of betrayal and non-camaraderie is unbecoming of him as a leader,” Redzuan said, referring to the PAS president’s statement that the party will be reviewing its cooperation with Bersatu over allegations of betrayal and not behaving in the spirit of a coalition.
Bersatu leaders have also insinuated on social media that Abdul Hadi’s actions could stem from his close relationship with Datuk Seri Hamzah Zainudin, who was sacked from the party in February.
“Abdul Hadi should realise that kicking out Bersatu from Perikatan is easier said than done. While PAS may have the numbers among MPs now, once the Dewan Rakyat is dissolved, all parties are back to zero.
“Accusations by PAS that we have only been using their electoral machinery and have no campaign workers of our own are untrue,” said Redzuan.
He called on Abdul Hadi to have an open discussion with Muhyiddin rather than a public blow-up, reminding the former that the real enemy is outside of the coalition, not within.
